Galkhaite is a rare mercury-sulfosalt mineral recognized by its distinct orange-red color and cubic crystal habit. It is primarily found in complex low-temperature hydrothermal deposits associated with other mercury and arsenic minerals.
Is this galkhaite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch galkhaite with a known reference. Galkhaite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Galkhaite leaves a yellow-orange streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Galkhaite typically shows a vitreous to adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange, red, yellow-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: dodecahedral crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Galkhaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Galkhaite leaves yellow-orange, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Galkhaite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Galkhaite leaves yellow-orange, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Galkhaite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Galkhaite leaves yellow-orange, Tetrahedrite leaves black; luster reads vitreous to adamantine on Galkhaite and metallic on Tetrahedrite.
Often found alongside galkhaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with galkhaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Cs,Tl,Hg)(Hg,Cu,Zn)₆(As,Sb)₄S₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 5.45 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous to Adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedral Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Mercury-antimony Deposits
Where rockhounds find galkhaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Khaidarkan antimony deposit, Kyrgyzstan
- Getchell Mine, Nevada, USA
- Jas Roux, France
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal mercury-antimony deposits country, the host setting where galkhaite typically forms. If you start seeing cinnabar, realgar, orpiment in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a dodecahedral crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find galkhaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
